Baseball – Basketball – Golf Coach
Jim served on McClancy’s faculty for thirty – six years until his untimely death on February 2nd, 1992. He was the first baseball and basketball coach when the school opened its doors in 1956. “Murph”, as he was affectionately known, was a dedicated and loyal teacher, as well as a strong family man.
After serving in both coaching capacities for four years, Jim turned his interests to golf. He became the founder of the CHSAA golf league, and became McClancy’s first coach.
Jim was also an outstanding high school athlete at St. John’s prep, Brooklyn in both baseball and football. In his senior year, he was selected to the All-City baseball team by all of the major newspapers as a catcher. He received a full scholarship to Fordham University, where he played footbal for the legendasy Vince Lombardi. Jim was inducted into the Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame a few years before he passed away.
Msgr. McClancy’s Administration dedicated the re-naming of the gymnasium in his honor in 1993. Jim is survived by his wife Rita and his seven children.